She walks in, clad not in chalked-up leggings and a sports bra but in jeans and makeup with her hair down. She sits, looks at the camera, and takes a breath.
“Ready,” she says.
Competing in CrossFit for over a decade now, and with five Games appearances under her belt, Danielle Brandon has earned the status of a tenured veteran athlete and has built a vibrant reputation for herself.
Since she began competing on the sport’s largest stage, Brandon has gained an ever-growing following of loyal fans who celebrate her athleticism, tenacity, passion for competition, and unapologetic authenticity.
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In the new documentary Danielle Brandon Energy, due out on YouTube on March 27, viewers get a raw and honest glimpse at Brandon’s more vulnerable side. It’s a side that she is just now comfortable sharing with the greater community, as the doc centers on everything that has shaped her into the “DB” fans know today.
Brandon shared that when she began working with the shoe and apparel company R.A.D years ago, she had a conversation with founder Ben Massey. She spoke to him about her past and, at some point, said she would love to find a way to give back and help kids who are facing their own challenges and difficulties. Brandon hopes this documentary can help.
- “I know I’m not alone in what I went through. Everybody’s trauma, what everybody goes through… no matter how big or small, it’s all about perspective…We all deal with different stuff on different levels, but it’s about what it feels like for you in that moment and at that period in time,” Brandon tells the Morning Chalk Up.
In this way, she knows that components of her story will strike a chord and hopefully remind her community that many of us face adversity in every stage of life.
When asked why she chose to pursue the documentary now, after years of competing and building a large following, she explains that her story and her adolescence were never details that she wanted to lead with.
She wants to build relationships by organically gaining and earning trust, building a circle of those who love and respect her — not because of what she’d been through but because of who she was.
- “[My past] was never something I wanted to be defined by,” Brandon says. “I think so many people who have gone through something traumatic or hard can relate to that… I didn’t want all this to be the reason people had my back… I wanted people to have my back because of the person I am today and what I’m trying to create in the present moment.”
Authentically DB
While many of us know DB as a fierce competitor, the film shows an overlooked side of her. The intensity that we observe in the elite athlete can be blinding and overshadow her entirely. When asked about this, she agrees.
- “It is overlooked, but it doesn’t bother me because the people close to me know me. Not everybody sees both sides of me, and honestly, not everyone gets to see both sides of me,” Brandon says. “If people take the time to get to know all of me, they know. It’s easy to judge someone based on one side of the story or only one perspective. In time, the truth always comes out.”
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Vulnerability as a Strength
As the documentary comes to a close, it’s apparent that Brandon exhibits self-awareness, confidence, and maturity that has contributed to her success and well-being. When asked how she’s been able to achieve such strength and confidence amidst challenges, she pauses and is thoughtful to answer:
- “Something that has really helped me is knowing I’m not defined by what has happened to me. I know a lot of people who have faced tough times, especially in their childhood, reflect back on it all and blame their lives on it,” Brandon says.
- “I’ve always had this thought process of moving forward and thinking… What can I do? How can I improve my situation? It’s also about being in the moment and being content and OK with where I’m at and appreciating what I have.”
Brandon expands on this and explains that her past and her entire life have contributed to who she has become, and she’s grateful for that.
The Bottom Line
Danielle Brandon Energy is a tender look into one of CrossFit’s most genuine competitors — one with a big heart that sometimes doesn’t get recognized. We’ve all seen the fire shine through on the competition floor, but in this 90-minute documentary, we see the love, kindness, and generosity shine through as well. This is DB, as we’ve never seen her before.
Come Wednesday, March 27, grab some M&Ms (as per DB’s suggestion), a Kleenex, and waterproof mascara (as per ours), and tune in.
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Photo Credit: @rad_global / Instagram
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